July 2004

Inspiration on careers, networking and writing

In this issue:
Editorial: Reap while you sow
Let me introduce you to: Trish Tucker at Passion4Juice
On the website: New look website
What you say: Your feedback
News you can use: Free ebook on business cards, Dream book, dance your way to success
What’s on: Autumn 2004

“Where words speak louder than actions”

Reap while you sow
Somehow this month’s topic seemed to creep up on me from so many directions that I had no choice but to write about it.

It all began last November, when I received an email from Laura Markey. Laura is a recent graduate, lives near me, and wants to start a career as a journalist. She asked if I could help. I offered her the chance to work alongside me for a while. I would train her to do some of my work and she would gain experience. Six months later, Laura has a place on the highly esteemed course at the City University, London, to study journalism. Twenty years ago, when I applied for that same course, with no experience, I failed to get a place. So congratulations to Laura for asking for help from me. I’d like to think I was instrumental in her success in some small way.

Then in January, Rebecca Law got in touch with me. My name had been passed to her by a mutual friend. Rebecca was another ‘Laura’. As she lived a few hours away from me, I invited Rebecca to stay with us for a week and gave her the same deal as Laura. She had such a good time that she handed in her notice soon after, and three weeks ago she returned, this time for a month. During this time I have found myself a willing assistant, a sounding board, a soulmate and a friend. I have also watched Rebecca blossom as my connections have turned into several published articles that now boast her own name in the byline.

And last week my old friend Donna Messer contacted me to offer me an article about mentors. You can read The Importance of Mentors on my website at http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com. And would you believe that it was only then that I realised that Laura and Becky were my mentees and that I was a mentor. Me? A mentor? I hadn’t seen it like that. I’d seen it as a perfect solution to a number of my problems:

Firstly, I work from home, alone, and sometimesmiss having someone to talk to.

Secondly, I have far more work than I can copewith and the capable graduates I had been calling my ‘Interns’ or‘Protegées’, were able to do an awful lot of work for me – researching, interviewing,surfing the Internet and administration. Rebecca has even cooked the supper!

Thirdly, I have always wanted to find a way to‘give back’ as they say, and had been looking for ways to do this that didnot take up too much of my ‘sadly scarce’ time.

Becoming a mentor was the perfect solution.

But I said that this subject had been creeping up on me from several directions. While Rebecca was here and Donna was emailing me, a new friend was coming into my email inbox. Hershey Wier is an American living in Japan and we had met on Ecademy (http://www.ecademy.com <http://www.ecademy.com/> ) through the Authors’ Forum. I was intrigued to see that the tagline on her email read ‘Reap and Sow’, when I asked her what this meant I discovered that it was all to do with Mastermind Ecademy that she is involved with and is a place where members can find a free mentor. I realised that for me, mentoring is just that - ‘ reaping and sowing’. Though with crops, reaping comes a fair while after the sowing, in my experience they magically arrive together.

And then only yesterday, I noticed that Nigel Risner has a new book out – and guess what it’s called ‘Masterminding Mentoring’! Spooky, eh? Nigel will give any Monthly Inspirer reader £5 off the price of his book if you order it online through his website (http://www.nigelrisner,com <http://www.nigelrisner,com/> ) and put the word Inspirer in the place where it says ‘send receipt’.

I’ve heard the talks and read the reports. I know that mentoring is making a huge difference to staff retention and morale in corporations. I now know from experience that mentoring has made such a difference in my life that when Becky leaves me next week I am going to miss her.

Until I tried it for myself, albeit by accident, I would never have believed how much I would benefit from being a mentor.

Believe in blue sky

Let me introduce you to

I met Trish Tucker at the Professional Speakers’ Association national conference last November. She was running the fresh juice stand beside me and I loved the fact that she calls her company Passion4Juice. Well, regular readers will know how passionate I am about passion, so I had to get to know Trish. Imagine how delighted I was to learn that she already owned a copy of Career in Your Suitcase 2! Almost as delighted as I was when I spotted that her surname was perfect for an Australian selling food! Anyway, I was recovering from bronchitis at the conference and decided to try one of her immune boosting cocktails. Made with pineapple, ginger and apple I remember, it packed more punch than a double espresso! I was hooked. I now own the juicer Trish recommended and just love it. The reason I want to introduce you to Trish is not just that she is so cool - she just sold juice at the Glastonbury Music Festival - but because her website has some great information on it, some recipes and you will be able to follow news of her forthcoming juice book. Find Trish at http://www.passion4juice.com <http://www.passion4juice.com/>

New Look Website

Take a look at my website http://www.summertimepublishing.com as it has just had a revamp, and looks great. You can even buy lots of my products there too now.

And thanks to Assignmentsplus.com there are lots of new articles up on http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com

'Manage Your Career Like a Business'
'How to Assess Your CV or Resume'
'How to Answer the Most Difficult Interview Questions'
'How to Prepare for a Telephone Interview'
'How to Create a Winning Impression in Your New Job'
'How to Talk Your Boss Into Giving You a Salary Increase'
'How to Prepare for a Performance Appraisal'
'Salary Negotiation Techniques'
'Handing in Your Resignation and Serving Notice'
'The Profile of a Successful Business Manager'

News you can use

If you would like a copy of Debbie Jenkins at Lean Marketing’s ebook on how to assess the effectiveness of your business cards and learn how to improve them then simply go to http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?4mxHSgQ7I91HMoMZoIteRA and complete the quick form and download the ebook directly.

I mentioned Hershey Wier earlier and thought you might like to look at her new ebook, called Dream, it is perfect for anyone looking to change their life for the better. It is practical and simple and packed with tips. A great thing to take on holiday for those moments on the beach when you feel like making a big change! Find out more at http://www.hersheywier.com

I have just heard about a number of companies who are injecting dance into their training routines. Not only is it fascinating but it also makes sense. If you would like to read the article I have just written about this for Expatica.com/hr then you can find it at: http://www.expatica.com/xpat/xpatsite/hr.asp?pad=234,343,&item_id=35839

What you say about the Monthly Inspirer

Hi Jo,
Loved Passion Posts!! Have printed and pinned up right in front of me. Brilliant.
Thanks.
M. Susan Macaulay, Abu Dhabi

Dear Joanna,
As one who works in a number of different areas and often doing too many diverse things, the focus on what is your passion and following your passion in the career area is particularly relevant. All too often we can be driven by our fears instead of our passions in doing things which bring security etc rather than things which give us fulfilment and which ultimately we are good at and can inspire others.
So thanks for the ten points
cheers,
Leonie Elphinstone
Cross-cultural trainer & Psychologist
Brisbane

What’s on in the autumn

Well, it seems a long way off, but you may as well start filling in your diaries now.

SEPTEMBER

I will be in The Netherlands and available for consultancy or a course on 15th if anyone would like to book me!

Thursday 16th September.
Den Haag Centraal
Motivation for Writers
A morning of feedback on work in progress and exercises
9.30 – 12.30
Cost: €25
Book on: mailto:info@summertimepublishing.com

OCTOBER
Wednesday 6th October
Definite Articles
Collyweston, Stamford, Lincs
Find out how to write and sell articles about what you know already.
9.30 – 3.30
£80 including lunch and notes
Book on: mailto:info@summertimepublishing.com

Thursday 7th October
A Place in the Sun
Buy the Book, Stamford, Lincs
Find out what moving abroad really means.
7.30 pm
Cost: £5
Book on 01780 756773

Wednesday 13th October
Definite Articles
Islington, London
Find out how to write and sell articles about what you know already.
9.30 – 3.30
£95 including lunch and notes
Book on: mailto:suewarner@speakingout.co.uk

NOVEMBER
Saturday 6th November
Find Your Passion
Stamford, Lincs
A workshop with Jo Parfitt and Jacinta Noonan (over from The Netherlands who runs http://www.bigontheinside.com <http://www.bigontheinside.com/> ) that will show you how to find your passion and make the break to turn your dreams into reality.
10.00 – 15.00
Cost: £65 – includes lunch and notes
Embrace magazine readers will receive a free book called Find Your Passion by Jo Parfitt.
Book on: mailto:info@summertimepublishing.com

The Netherlands
Week of 22-25 November
Find Your Passion Workshop with Jo Parfitt and Jacinta Noonan
Definite Articles Workshop with Jo Parfitt €150
Motivation for Writers morning 9.30 – 12.30 €25, Den Haag
Book on: mailto:info@summertimepublishing.com

DECEMBER
Wednesday 8th December
Collyweston, Stamford, Lincs
Release the Book Within
Learn how to plan and write books and get them published too.
9.30 – 3.30
£80 – includes lunch and notes